Articulating hinge

Abstract

An articulated hinge is provided which is capable of supporting a panel member and permitting the panel member to be moved away from an opening and at the same time permit the panel member to be rotated approximately 90 degrees. The hinge has a scissor arm mechanism which provides for smooth opening and closing of the hinge thereby eliminating a possible sticking of the hinge during opening.

1. A hinge for attaching a first panel to a second panel such that the first panel is pivotable relative to the second panel from a closed position when the hinge is contracted to an open position, the hinge comprising:
 a hinge base for connecting to the second panel, the hinge base having a base link member pivotable relative to the hinge base, 
 a support member for connecting to the first panel, 
 a first member connected to an end of the base link member, said first member having an outer perimeter and an opening bounded by said outer perimeter, 
 a second member connected to the hinge base, the second member being inserted through the opening in the first member, and the first member and second member being pivotable relative to one another about a central pivot means, the central pivot means being inserted through the opening in the first member perpendicular to the second member, 
 a biasing means connected to the central pivot means and the support member for biasing the first member relative to the support member, 
 a pivot support means about which the support member is pivotable relative to the first member, 
 a link member connected to the second member and the support member at opposite ends of the link member, 
 a first pivot link means about which the second member is pivotable relative to the link member, and 
 a second pivot link means about which the support member is pivotable relative to the link member, 
 wherein, the hinge is capable of maintaining the first panel parallel to the second panel in the closed position, and 
 wherein said base link member, said first member, said second member, and said link member are drawn into said base member when said hinge retracts the first panel from the open position to the closed position, such that said base link member, said first member, said second member, and said link member are contained within a space defined by said base member when the first panel is in the closed position. 
 
   
   
     2. The hinge according to  claim 1  wherein the biasing means is a spring. 
   
   
     3. The hinge according to  claim 2  wherein the spring is a coil spring. 
   
   
     4. The hinge according to  claim 1  in combination with the first panel and the second panel. 
   
   
     5. The hinge according to  claim 1  wherein the central pivot means and the second pivot link means are pins. 
   
   
     6. The hinge according to  claim 3  wherein the central pivot means and the second pivot link means are pins. 
   
   
     7. The hinge according to  claim 6  wherein the base link member is connected to the hinge base with a pin. 
   
   
     8. The hinge according to  claim 1  wherein the support member has a first end at which the support member is connected to the link member and a second end at which the first member connects to the support member. 
   
   
     9. The hinge according to  claim 3  wherein the support member has a first end at which the support member is connected to the link member and a second end at which the first member connects to the support member. 
   
   
     10. The hinge according to  claim 1  wherein said support member is capable of displacing said first panel relative to said hinge base between the closed position and the open position, such that the entire first panel moves away from said hinge base when transitioning from the closed position to the open position. 
   
   
     11. The hinge according to  claim 1  wherein the support member is pivotable to a fully open position in which the first panel connected to said support member has pivoted 90 degrees from the closed position.